Steam-engine valve.



PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905.

1?, 0. BALL.

H V L A V E N I G N B M A E T S APPLICATION FILED-TAN. 26, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

3W J M M64. cvf'idfi #7 AZZMQ No. 779,112. PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905.

. F.0.BALL. STEAM ENGINE VALVE.

APIfLIUATION FILED JAN. 26 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

naw/who's imaiflaz a r/30% mail/QM mam/1 No. 779,112. PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905.

F. 0. BALL.

'' STEAM ENGINE VALVE.

APPLICATION IIILED JAN. 26.. 1903.

3 SHEETS-8HEET 3.

o d o 772 o o o ,7 I 6; 1 Q- \T I Patented January 3, 1905.

PATENT @EETEE.

FREDERICK 0. BALL, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW J EltnEY.

STEAM-ENGINE VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,112, dated. January 3, 1905.

Application filed January 26,1903. Serial No. 140,570.

To all w/wm, it puny concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK O. BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey,have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engine Valves, of. which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steam-engine valves; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Heretofore where certaintypes of valves have been used, especially piston-valves, great difficulty has been experienced in keeping the valves tight. It is a comparatively easy matter to make these valves so that they are practically balanced in every way except against the action of gravity. Through the action of gravity the valve works into its seat, and this results in leakage at the top of the valve. Piston-valves are particularly desirable because of the cheapness of construction and because of the cheapness in the construction of the seats or parts in or on which they act.

The object of this invention is to provide means for taking up the wear on valves.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as follows:

Figure 1 shows a section on the line 1 1 in Fig. 6. Fig. 2 shows a section of an entire valve; Fig. 3, a section on the line 8 3 in Fig. 4; Fig. 4, an end elevation looking from the right ofFig. 6; Fig. 5, an end elevation from the left of Fig. 6; Fig. 6, a plan view of the valve. Fig. 7 is an end view of a compoundengine cylinders and steam-chest, a part being in section to show the valve. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 in Fig. 7 and Fig. 9, a section on the line 9 9 in Fig. 7 the sectionlines being from the center of the cylinders to the center of the valves and then horizontal.

The valve shown is designed for use in compound engines, the valves A controlling the high-pressure cylinders and the valves B controlling the low-pressure cylinders. These are of the piston-valve type. They are divided horizontally and preferably arranged in pairs, one high-pressure and one low-prestween the diiferent parts of the valve.

sure in each pair, connected by the necks C, in which are arranged the clamping-bolts 0. Clamping-bolts a are arranged in the cavities a in valve A, and clamping-bolts b in the cavity Z) in the valve B. Shims D are arranged between the parts or halves of the valve. When these are in place and the clamping-bolts set, it becomes as one piece.

In practice two sheets of rolled copper each .003 inch in thickness are placed between the parts and the valves titted. Users are supplied with sheets .003 inch and .004i inch in thickness. With this combination by shifting the shims any thickness desired may be had, increasing the thickness .001 inch at each time. It is possible with this minute adjustment to keep the valve perfectly tight and still have it free enough to run smoothly. As there is practically no wearon the sides of the valve, it provides for practically all the wear to which the valve is subjected.

The shims D extend, as shown, entirely across the valve, so as to form a closure be- This permits the valve to be made in several chambers, the-chambers being dependent upon the walls of the steam-chest for completing them. While this is desirable with a valve for highpressure engines as formed by the valves A, it is particularly desirable where there are several separations, as provided by the valves A and B. a

In the construction shown the members comprising the valves A and B for each end of the cylinder are connected by the rod E. This extends through a central perforation e in each of the members. The rod has the shoulders c and is locked in position by the nuts X. The valve members are clamped between the shoulders e and nuts 0 I have shown the valve in a compound-engine receiver and steam-chest formed in accordance with the invention of Frank H. Ball,

an application for patent for which was filed January 26, 1903, Serial No. 140,571. It

consists of the steam-chest, which leads to the steam-passage F and from which leads the high-pressure ports G G. This extends to the high-pressure cylinder G, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. A portion of the high-pressure valve A operates upon these ports and controls the high-pressure cylinder. The lowpressure valves B operate over the ports I, which extend to the low-pressure cylinder I.

i The outlet-passages J lead from the chest.

The high-pressure cylinder of the engine exhausts into the receiver H. The valve-seat chamber for the valve A is formed partly in the cylinder-castings and partly by a cap H. This cap, with the portion of the cylinder. is preferably of the same bore as the seats for the valve B. A sleeve H is clamped by the clamp H and reduces the diameter of the seat proper, so as to conform to the diameter of the valve A. This peculiar arrangement of steam-chests and valve-seats, as before stated, forms the subject-matter of the application above referred to and forms no part of the present invention, except as it may be incident to the valve.

What 1 claim as new is- 1. A steam-engine valve divided longitudinally and having a transverse separating-wall and comprising shims between the longitudinal divisions, said shims forming a closure 2. In a steam-engine valve, the combination of the members comprising the valves A and B, neck (1, said members being divided longitudinally; the shims D between the parts; clamping bolts for securing the parts together; and means for connecting two of said valve members together to control both ends of the cylinder.

3. In a steam-engine valve, the combination of the members comprising the valves A and B, and neck C said members being divided longitudinally: the shims D between the parts; clamping bolts for securing the parts together; the rod E connecting the members for each end of the cylinder; and means for looking said rod with the valve members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK 0. BALL Witnesses:

G. G. SoMERs, T. H. BALL, 

